human body
Sepsis still kills 1 in 5 people worldwide
Two ICU physicians offer a new approach to stopping it.
The Metamorphosis in real life: Mites that live on our faces might be merging with us
More than 90% of human faces are home to mites that live in our skin pores. These friendly guests might be merging with us.
Why do women always feel cold? Science can explain
The biology behind your office's air conditioning war.
10-second balance test is a powerful predictor of death for older adults
A study finds that older adults who cannot balance on one foot for ten seconds have an 84% higher risk of death than those who can.
Should I have kids? A psychologist explains how to decide
Kids don’t always make you happier. Here’s why people have them anyway.
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This molecule may be the “secret sauce” of exercise — but it won’t work as a pill
"Lac-Phe" grants obese mice the benefits of exercise — without exercising. But don't expect an "exercise pill."
Why you should want to suffer — just a little bit
There are two kinds of suffering. One is pure pain. The other makes life worth living.
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Why are people sexually attracted to cartoons? Evolution.
Nikolaas Tinbergen's concept of "supernormal stimulus" explains why humans are attracted to a heightened version of reality.
Should genetics be used to create social policy?
Eugenics is bad - but understanding DNA is good.
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New CRISPR-based map ties every human gene to its function
“It’s a big resource in the way the human genome is a big resource, in that you can go in and do discovery-based research."
Why 21 severed human feet washed ashore in Canada and the U.S.
The weirdest thing about the 21 feet found near Vancouver since 2007? Foul play has been ruled out.
Is intermittent fasting the diet for you? Here’s what the science says
Is fasting the key to burning fat? It's not that simple.
Schools ignore genetics—and that’s actually a bad thing
Almost all our school improvements fail. Here’s why.
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Nature vs. nurture, explained by a geneticist
“If 90% of children had ADHD and only 10% of children could sit still at a desk, how would we design school?”
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How gene therapy could cure neuropathic pain
Scientists found a way to revert pain in mice using gene therapy. Perhaps the same technique could be applied to humans.
Gattaca redux: Will genetic paparazzi steal our DNA?
How can the law keep up with new genetic technology?
“Spooky” quantum biology might cause your DNA to mutate
The spooky world of quantum mechanics might reach out and touch you — by mutating your DNA. Welcome to the weird world of quantum biology.
Are goals necessary? A habit scientist answers.
The US reduced smoking rates from 50% to 15% with a simple habit hack.
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How do elite performers automate their habits?
Practice doesn’t actually make perfect. Here’s the willpower equation necessary for elite athletes and musicians.
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Hit peak performance with the power of habit
There’s a psychological reason you haven’t created healthier habits in your life.
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Blood test can calculate your true biological age
Your old-fashioned chronological age is just a number. Your biological age can tell you how healthy you really are.
Identical twins were raised in different countries. Here’s how they differ today.
Will nature or nurture win out?
What is toe jam? From harmless gunk to a feast for bugs
He wear no shoeshine, he got toe-jam football...
Research shows brain mechanisms that link tinnitus and sleep
Understanding these links could bring us closer to a cure.
Can quantum science supercharge genetics?
Are physicists about to decode a mysterious field of science that could have huge implications for your health?
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This 715-song playlist is scientifically verified to give you the chills, thanks to “frisson”
Listening to some songs can cause a powerful physiological response known as "frisson." What is it, and why does it happen?
Anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen are used to treat chronic pain. What if they cause it?
Drugs that stifle acute inflammation may prevent the body from healing properly.
How long-term space missions change the brain
Data from NASA, ESA, and Roscosmos suggest that long durations in space cause changes in the brain, some of which are linked to vision problems.
A Spanish teen’s genome may hold the secret to lupus
Researchers believe they have found a single point mutation in an infection-sensing gene that causes the autoimmune disorder.